U.S. patent application number 14/297459 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for methods for adjusting network transmission service level and data terminals.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Zhenqi Zhang, Saixin Zhou.
Application Number | 20140286160 14/297459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48498428 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140286160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhang; Zhenqi ; et
al. |
September 25, 2014 |
METHODS FOR ADJUSTING NETWORK TRANSMISSION SERVICE LEVEL AND DATA
TERMINALS
Abstract
This disclosure relates to methods for adjusting network
transmission service levels, data terminals, and network servers.
The method for adjusting a network transmission service level, used
in a data terminal, comprises: obtaining data to be transmitted;
inserting the data into specified queues or assigning priorities to
the data according to one or more data characteristics selected
from importance, instantaneity, data resources, and data types;
transmitting a transmission service request to a network server,
wherein the transmission service request includes information about
the network transmission service level requested and corresponding
network configuration parameters; and using the network
transmission service provided by the network server according to
the transmission service request to transmit the data in queues or
the data whose priorities correspond to the network transmission
service level provided. The data terminal could ask the network
transmission service provider to provide different network
transmission service to improve the instantaneity and stability of
data transmission.
Inventors: |
Zhang; Zhenqi; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; Zhou; Saixin; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
48498428 |
Appl. No.: |
14/297459 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/CN2012/085796 |
Dec 4, 2012 |
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14297459 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 47/2408 20130101;
H04L 47/2433 20130101; H04L 47/24 20130101; H04L 47/2458 20130101;
H04L 67/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/230 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/833 20060101
H04L012/833 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2011 |
CN |
201110398723.8 |
Claims
1. A method for adjusting a network transmission service level,
used in a data terminal, comprising: obtaining data to be
transmitted; inserting the data into specified queues or assigning
priorities to the data according to one or more data
characteristics selected from importance, instantaneity, data
resources, and data types; transmitting a transmission service
request to a network server, wherein the transmission service
request includes information regarding a network transmission
service level requested and corresponding network configuration
parameters; and using a network transmission service provided by
the network server according to the transmission service request to
transmit the data in the queues or the data whose priorities
correspond to the network transmission service level provided.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
presetting a mapping table representing the mapping relationship
between the network transmission service levels and the queues or
the priorities of the data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said network transmission service
includes at least one of bandwidth, transmission delay, and
transmission channels.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using the network
transmission service provided by the network server according to
the transmission service request to transmit the data in the queues
or the data whose priorities correspond to the network transmission
service level provided further comprises: generating a new
transmission service request according to a received transmission
service changing request and sending it to the network server,
wherein said new transmission service request includes the network
transmission service level changed and corresponding network
configuration parameters; determining the data to be transmitted
according to the network transmission service level changed; and
transmitting the data.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmission service
changing request is generated according to an input device; wherein
the input device includes multiple buttons, a knob with multiple
statuses, or a toggle button with multiple statuses set on the data
terminal, or the input device includes soft keys set on a display
interface of the data terminal.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmission service
changing request is generated according to an importance
recognition module such that after an event is detected, said
importance recognition module determines the network transmission
service level according to a mapping table representing the
relationship between the network transmission service levels and
the importance of each event.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data terminal is a medical
device, and said data includes at least one of vital signs detected
by the medical device, analysis reports, events, medical data,
audio data, and video data.
8. A data terminal comprising: a data pretreating unit for
inserting data to be transmitted into specified queues or assigning
priorities to the data according to one or more data
characteristics selected from importance, instantaneity, data
resources, and data types; a transmission service requesting unit
for transmitting a transmission service request to a network
server, wherein the transmission service request includes
information regarding a network transmission service level
requested and corresponding network configuration parameters; and a
data transmitting unit for using a network transmission service
provided by the network server according to the transmission
service request to transmit the data in the queues or the data
whose priorities correspond to the network transmission service
level provided.
9. The data terminal of claim 8, further comprising: a mapping
table representing the mapping relationship between the network
transmission service levels and the queues or the priorities of the
data.
10. The data terminal of claim 8, wherein said network transmission
service includes at least one of bandwidth, transmission delay, and
transmission channels.
11. The data terminal of claim 8, wherein the transmission service
requesting unit also generates a new transmission service request
according to a received transmission service changing request and
sends it to the network server, wherein said new transmission
service request includes the network transmission service level
changed and corresponding network configuration parameters.
12. The data terminal of claim 8, further comprising: an input
device or an importance recognition module, wherein the
transmission service requesting unit generates the new transmission
service request according to the network transmission service level
outputted by the input device or the importance recognition
module.
13. The data terminal of claim 12, wherein the input device
includes multiple buttons, a knob with multiple statuses, or a
toggle button with multiple statuses set on the data terminal, or
the input device includes soft keys set on a display interface of
the data terminal.
14. The data terminal of claim 12, wherein the importance
recognition module determines the network transmission service
level according to a mapping table representing the relationship
between the network transmission service levels and the importance
of each event.
15. The data terminal of claim 8, wherein said data terminal is a
medical device, and said data includes at least one of vital signs
detected by the medical device, analysis reports, events, medical
data, audio data, and video data.
16. A data terminal comprising: a data obtaining module for
obtaining data to be transmitted; a storage module for storing the
data to be transmitted and a mapping table representing the
relationship between the data and network transmission service
levels; an input device for outputting a transmission service
changing request according to operation of an operator, wherein the
transmission service changing request includes information
regarding a network transmission service level selected and
corresponding network configuration parameters; and at least one
processor, connecting with the data obtaining module, the storage
module, and the input device, for generating a transmission service
request according to a default network transmission service level
or the transmission service changing request received, and for
determining the data to be transmitted according to the
transmission service changing request received and the mapping
table.
17. The data terminal of claim 16, wherein said mapping table
represents the mapping relationship between the network
transmission service levels and queues or priorities of the
data.
18. The data terminal of claim 17, wherein said processor includes:
a data pretreating unit for inserting the data to be transmitted
into specified queues or assigning priorities to the data according
to one or more data characteristics selected from importance,
instantaneity, data resources, and data types; a transmission
service requesting unit for generating and transmitting a
transmission service request to a network server, wherein the
transmission service request includes information regarding a
network transmission service level requested and corresponding
network configuration parameters; and a data transmitting unit for
using the network transmission service provided by the network
server according to the transmission service request to transmit
the data in the queues or the data whose priorities correspond to
the network transmission service level provided.
19. The data terminal of claim 16, wherein said input device
includes multiple buttons, a knob with multiple statuses, or a
toggle button with multiple statuses.
20. The data terminal of claim 19, wherein said buttons, knob, or
toggle button is set on an operation panel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to methods for adjusting network
transmission service levels and data terminals.
SUMMARY
[0002] Disclosed herein are embodiments of methods for adjusting
network transmission service levels and data terminals.
[0003] In one aspect, a method for adjusting a network transmission
service level, used in a data terminal, comprises:
[0004] obtaining data to be transmitted;
[0005] inserting the data into specified queues or assigning
priorities to the data according to one or more data
characteristics selected from importance, instantaneity, data
resources, and data types;
[0006] transmitting a transmission service request to a network
server, wherein the transmission service request includes
information about the network transmission service level requested
and corresponding network configuration parameters; and
[0007] using the network transmission service provided by the
network server according to the transmission service request to
transmit the data in queues or the data whose priorities correspond
to the network transmission service level provided.
[0008] In another aspect, a data terminal comprises:
[0009] a data pretreating unit for inserting data to be transmitted
into specified queues or assigning priorities to the data according
to one or more data characteristics selected from importance,
instantaneity, data resources, and data types;
[0010] a transmission service requesting unit for transmitting a
transmission service request to a network server, wherein the
transmission service request includes information about the network
transmission service level requested and corresponding network
configuration parameters; and
[0011] a data transmitting unit for using the network transmission
service provided by the network server according to the
transmission service request to transmit the data in queues or the
data whose priorities correspond to the network transmission
service level provided.
[0012] In still another aspect, a data terminal comprises:
[0013] a data obtaining module for obtaining data to be
transmitted;
[0014] a storage module for storing the data to be transmitted and
a mapping table representing the relationship between the data and
network transmission service levels;
[0015] an input device for outputting a transmission service
changing request according to operation of an operator, wherein the
transmission service changing request includes information about
the network transmission service level selected and corresponding
network configuration parameters; and
[0016] at least one processor connecting with the data obtaining
module, the storage module, and the input device for generating a
transmission service request according to a default network
transmission service level or the transmission service changing
request received, and determining the data to be transmitted
according to the transmission service changing request received and
the mapping table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a prehospital emergency
system according to an embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a processor according to
an embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method for adjusting network
transmission service level according to an embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a processor according to
another embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for adjusting network
transmission service level in another embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a method of changing the
network transmission service level in an embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an interaction between a
medical device and a network server according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] In order to monitor and treat a patient who needs emergency
treatment as early as possible, some prehospital emergency systems
are provided. Usually, the prehospital emergency system includes an
emergency end and a hospital end. The emergency end, set in an
ambulance or a rescue site, may include some devices with
monitoring and emergency functions used to get physiological
parameters of the patient and provide necessary treatment earlier.
Data obtained by the emergency end of the prehospital emergency
system gives a good reference to hospital treatment. So prehospital
emergency care is an important part of the emergency medical care,
and monitoring or diagnostic data obtained during the prehospital
phase is very important. In order to guarantee quality of emergency
rescue to aid in prehospital care and subsequent hospital care,
real-time patient data obtained by the emergency end is transmitted
to the hospital in time so that experts in the hospital can provide
diagnosis and guidance in advance. This can also save time for
diagnosing after the patient arrives at the hospital, and it
becomes an inevitable trend of prehospital emergency medical care
system development.
[0025] But the emergency ends of existing systems do not transmit
data to the hospital in time. The data obtained by the emergency
end includes various vital signs, reports, and treatment data, and
it may also include live audio and video data and ambulance GPS
data. Most of these data are real-time waveform data or image data,
and the bandwidth of wireless or wired networks provided by
existing network server providers is fixed, so the data obtained by
the emergency end cannot be transmitted to the hospital in time or
even can be lost due to network congestion, and the real-time
waveform may not be displayed in the hospital in time.
[0026] The inventive conception of this disclosure is requesting
different network transmission service levels to transmit different
data according to one or more data characteristics selected from
importance, instantaneity, data resources, and data types. If the
data transmitted is more important, more instantaneous, or larger
in amount, the network transmission service level requested is
higher, the transmission service quality and transmission speed of
the network transmission service provided by the network
transmission service provider is higher, and the delay is smaller.
In one embodiment, the data transmitted is inserted into one or
more data characteristics selected from importance, instantaneity,
data resources, and data types, and the data with the same priority
can be added into a same queue or different queues. There is a
mapping table which represents mapping relationships between the
network transmission service levels and the queues, and a certain
network transmission service level could correspond to one queue or
multiple queues. In another embodiment, the data transmitted is
assigned a priority according to one or more data characteristics
selected from importance, instantaneity, data resources, and data
types, and a mapping table is used to represent mapping
relationships between the network transmission service levels and
the priorities of the data. A certain network transmission service
level could correspond to one priority or multiple priorities of
the data.
[0027] In the following embodiments, a medical device referred to
as a data terminal may be a patient monitor, a defibrillator, a
respirator, or an electrocardiograph. The medical device used in
the prehospital emergency system is at the emergency end and
transmits the data obtained to the hospital end via wireless or
wired networks.
First Embodiment
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the prehospital emergency system may
include an emergency end 100 and a central control system 200. The
emergency end 100 may include a medical device 10, a communication
device 20, and a camera device 30.
[0029] The medical device 10 refers to all kinds of emergency
devices used outside a hospital, including but not limited to a
patient monitor, defibrillator, electrocardiograph, and respirator.
The medical device 10 might include but is not limited to a control
system, a storage module, a function module, an output module, a
wireless communication module, and a power management module. The
wireless communication module could be integrated into the medical
device or be a separate hardware module.
[0030] The communication device 20 refers to a data receiving and
sending device, which could be installed in the ambulance or other
emergency equipment.
[0031] The camera device 30 refers to an audio and video obtaining
device.
[0032] The data of the emergency end could be divided into three
categories according to their sources:
[0033] 1. vital signs and treatment data including but not limited
to parameters, waveforms, 12-lead ECG reports, trends and events
reflecting patient vital signs (such as ECG, SPO2, NIBP, IBP, TEMP,
or CO2), and operation and treatment events implemented by
rescuers. In addition, the vital signs and treatment data could
also include received network task instructions, which mainly refer
to instruction events sent from the hospital.
[0034] 2. machine data including but not limited to alarm
information, user information, software and/or hardware state
information, and system configuration information. In addition, the
machine data could also include task instructions, system
configurations, and system software received through a network
and/or data obtained by other devices, such as GPS.
[0035] 3. audio and video data including audio and video
information obtained by devices such as the emergency device and
affiliate camera.
[0036] The emergency end uploads at least part of the obtained
medical data (including physiological parameters reflecting the
patient vital signs, medical reports, treatment data, events,
machine data, and so on) and/or patient field data (including audio
and video data, GPS data of the ambulance, text descriptions, and
so on) to the central control system 200 by wireless or wired
network. The central control system 200 may include one or more
data servers. A data server could include one or more management
systems or software to realize data analysis, management, or
controlment.
[0037] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the medical device 10 includes
a data obtaining module (not shown), a storage module 12, an
input/output device 13, and a processor 14. The data obtaining
module obtains data that needs to be transmitted, and may include a
function module 11 for obtaining physiological parameters
representing patient vital signs. In another embodiment, the data
obtaining module may also include an interface (not shown in the
figures) for receiving video and audio data obtained by the camera
device 30. Data obtained by the data obtaining module is processed
by the processor 14 and then stored in the storage module 12. The
storage module 12 also stores a preset mapping table which
represents the mapping relationship between the network
transmission service levels and the priorities of data to be
transmitted. The input/output device 13 may include an input device
and an output device. The input device outputs transmission service
changing requests according to operation of an operator, and a
transmission service changing request could include information
about the network transmission service level selected and
corresponding network configuration parameters. The processor 14,
which connects with the data obtaining module, the storage module
12, and the input/output device 13, processes data obtained from
the data obtaining module or the storage module 12 and then
transmits processed data to the communication device 20. The
communication device 20 transmits the processed data to a remote
receiver, such as the central control system 200, by wired or
wireless network.
[0038] In an embodiment, the medical device 10 may also include a
wireless communication module 15. The processor 14 transmits the
data to be sent to the remote receiver to the communication device
20 through the wireless communication module 15, and then the
communication device 20 transmits the data to the remote receiver
by wired or wireless network.
[0039] In an embodiment, the processor 14 may also receive
transmission service changing requests sent by the input device 13.
The processor 14 generates a transmission service request according
to the default network transmission service level or the
transmission service changing request received, and then determines
the data to be transmitted according to the network transmission
service level of the transmission service request and the mapping
table. The transmission service changing request can be generated
at the beginning of data transmission or during subsequent
transmission according to the operation of the medical worker.
[0040] In a specific embodiment, the input device 13 could be
realized by multiple buttons, a knob with multiple statuses, or a
toggle button with multiple statuses. The input device 13 could
also be realized by soft keys, such as icons, option widgets, and
input widgets, set on the display interface, with each soft key
representing one network transmission service level. The buttons,
knob, or toggle button could be set on an operation panel to
facilitate operation by the medical worker.
[0041] In the embodiment, the data transmission sequence is
determined based on its source or type.
[0042] In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the processor
14 may include a queue distributing unit 1411, a transmission
service requesting unit 1412, and a data transmitting unit 1413.
The queue distributing unit 1411 inserts the data to be transmitted
into one or more queues 1414 according to source or type. In this
embodiment, each queue 1414 is assigned a priority in advance, and
the data in a queue 1414 will be transmitted by the priority of the
queue 1414. The transmission service requesting unit 1412 transmits
a transmission service request, which could include the network
transmission service level requested and corresponding network
configuration parameters, to a network server 300. The data
transmitting unit 1413 uses the network transmission service
provided by the network server 300 to transmit data in queues 1414
corresponding to the network transmission service level of the
network transmission service provided. For example, the data
transmitting unit 1413 transmits data in corresponding queues 1414
to the communication device 20, and then the communication device
20 transmits the data to the remote receiver.
[0043] The data to be transmitted could be obtained from a mapping
table 1211 according to the network transmission service level
provided. For example, the mapping table 1211, which represents the
mapping relationship between the network transmission service
levels and the queues 1414, could be stored in the storage module
in advance, and each network transmission service level could
correspond to one or more queues 1414. When data needs to be
transmitted, the data transmitting unit 1413 queries the mapping
table 1211 in the storage module to determine corresponding queues
1414, then polls for corresponding queues 1414 and transmits data
in the queues 1414.
[0044] Based on the structure of the specific embodiment, the
network transmission service level could be adjusted as needed
during data transmission. As shown in FIG. 3, a method for
adjusting the network transmission service level could include the
following steps.
[0045] At step S11, the processor of the medical device obtains
data to be transmitted and inserts the data into one or more queues
according to resources and types. In one specific embodiment, the
obtained data could include at least one of vital signs, treatment
data, events, machine data, patient reports, analysis reports,
audio and video data, and on-site consultation obtained in real
time. Each queue is assigned a priority, and data in the queue with
the highest priority is transmitted no matter what the network
transmission service level is. Specifically, the data are divided
into two types: (1) the vital signs and treatment data, which need
to be transmitted in time, belong to one category and are inserted
into the queue with the highest priority; and (2) the audio and
video data and images, which need to be transmitted in special or
emergency circumstances, belong to another category and are
inserted into the queue with lower priority. The audio and video
data and images are transmitted only when the network transmission
service level provided is high enough, thus ensuring the important
data will be transmitted to the central control system in time and
avoiding network congestion caused by the large volume of
transmitted data.
[0046] At step S12, a transmission service request, which could
include information about the network transmission service level
requested and corresponding network configuration parameters, is
transmitted to the network server. If the network transmission
service level requested is higher, the transmission service quality
of the network transmission service provided by the network
transmission service provider is higher, and the amount of data
transmitted is larger. For example, if the medical device requests
a higher network transmission service level, the network
transmission service provider provides wider bandwidth, shorter
transmission delay, and better transmission channels (such as a
better transmission network or fewer notes).
[0047] At step S13, the data in queues corresponding to the network
transmission service level provided are transmitted through the
network transmission service provided by the network server. The
network transmission service may include at least one of bandwidth,
transmission delay, and transmission channels. For example, the
network server could provide a private network or increase network
bandwidth according to the network transmission service level
requested by the data terminal. In an embodiment, the processor of
the medical device polls for queues corresponding to the network
transmission service level provided and uploads data from these
queues, or the processor uploads the data by timing; that is, the
processor reads and uploads data from a queue corresponding to the
network transmission service level during a certain time, and reads
and uploads data from another queue corresponding to the network
transmission service level during another time.
Second Embodiment
[0048] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the medical
device may further include a mapping table 1212, pre-stored in the
storage module 12, which represents the mapping relationship
between network transmission service levels and priorities of the
data. The processor 14 may include a priority marking unit 1422, a
transmission service requesting unit 1423, and a data transmitting
unit 1424. The priority marking unit 1422 assigns priorities to the
data to be transmitted, according to resources or types. The
transmission service requesting unit 1423 transmits transmission
service requests, which could include the network transmission
service level requested and corresponding network configuration
parameters, to the network server 300. The data transmitting unit
1424 uses the network transmission service provided by the network
server 300 to transmit the data whose priorities correspond to the
network transmission service level provided. For example, the data
transmitting unit 1424 transmits corresponding data to the
communication device 20, and then the communication device 20
transmits the data to the remote receiver.
[0049] Based on the structure of the specific embodiment, the
network transmission service level could be adjusted as needed
during data transmission. As shown in FIG. 5, a method for
adjusting the network transmission service level could include the
following steps.
[0050] At step S21, the medical device creates a mapping table,
which represents the mapping relationship between network
transmission service levels and priorities of data. If the amount
of data to be transmitted is larger, the network transmission
service level needed is higher. First, the priorities of the data
to be transmitted are set, and each network transmission service
level may correspond to one or more priorities of the data.
Consider an example in which the priorities of all the data to be
transmitted are A, B, C, D, and E, from high to low, and the
network transmission service levels are Level 1, Level 2, and Level
3, from low to high. According to the data transmission needed, the
mapping table may map relationships such that the highest network
transmission service level, Level 3, corresponds to the priorities
A, B, C, D, and E; the middle network transmission service level,
Level 2, corresponds to the priorities A, B, and E; and the lowest
network transmission service level, Level 1, corresponds to the
priorities A and B.
[0051] At step S22, a transmission service request, which could
include the network transmission service level requested and
corresponding network configuration parameters, is transmitted to
the network server.
[0052] At step S23, the data to be transmitted is obtained in real
time and assigned a priority according to its resources and types.
A flag could be set in the package header or other position to mark
the priority of the data. In a specific application, the data could
be divided into two types: (1) the vital signs and treatment data
that must always be transmitted; and (2) the audio and video data
and images to be transmitted only in emergency situations. In other
words, vital signs and treatment data are assigned the highest
priority, and audio and video data and images are assigned the
lowest priority.
[0053] At step S24, the data whose priorities correspond to the
network transmission service level provided are transmitted through
the network transmission service provided by the network server.
The network transmission service may include at least one of
bandwidth, transmission delay, and transmission channels. In one
embodiment, the medical device queries the mapping table according
to the network transmission service level provided to determine the
priorities of data to be transmitted, and then transmits the data
with corresponding priorities. Specifically, the medical device
could query the flag in the package header or other position to
determine the data to be transmitted, and then transmit the data
determined.
[0054] In the above description, the steps S22 and S23 do not need
to follow a strict sequence; the transmission service request could
be transmitted first, or the data could be assigned a priority
first.
[0055] In addition, the queue distributing unit 1411 of FIG. 2 and
the priority marking unit 1422 of FIG. 4 could be referred to as a
data pretreating unit for pretreating the data to be
transmitted.
[0056] There are at least two network transmission service levels.
When the emergency end begins to work, it sends a transmission
service request according to the network transmission service level
selected by the medical worker (for example, the normal network
transmission service level) and then transmits the vital signs and
treatment data that correspond to the network transmission service
level. When the situation changes (for example, when the medical
worker needs to transmit audio and video data), the network
transmission service level needs to be higher. So when the medical
device detects a transmission service changing request, it
generates a new transmission service request for changing the
network transmission service level. As shown in FIG. 6, changing
the network transmission service level may include the following
steps:
[0057] At step S31, the medical device generates a new transmission
service request according to a received transmission service
changing request and sends it to the network server.
[0058] At step S32, the medical device determines the data to be
transmitted according to the changed network transmission service
level.
[0059] At step S33, the medical device transmits the data through
the network transmission service provided by the network
server.
[0060] At step S31, the transmission service changing request could
be generated according to the input device or an event.
[0061] The data to be transmitted could be determined by querying
either the mapping table representing the mapping relationship
between the network transmission service levels and the priorities
of the data, or the mapping table representing the mapping
relationship between the network transmission service levels and
the queues.
[0062] In one specific embodiment, the input device could include
multiple buttons, a knob with multiple statuses, or a toggle button
with multiple statuses. Each button represents one network
transmission service level, and each status of the knob or toggle
button represents one network transmission service level. When the
medical worker presses a certain button, or turns the knob or the
toggle button to a certain status, the input device generates a
transmission service changing request according to the button
pressed or the selected status of the knob or toggle button.
[0063] In another specific embodiment, the input device could
include soft keys, such as icons, option widgets, and input
widgets, set on the display interface of the medical device, each
of which represents one network transmission service level. The
medical worker could trigger the transmission service changing
request by pressing a certain icon or selecting an option or input
widget, or the medical worker could trigger the transmission
service changing request by inputting a certain number or
character, such as inputting 1 to select the highest network
transmission service level.
[0064] The process of triggering the transmission service changing
request through the input device may include the following steps:
the medical worker determines the network transmission service
level needed according to the current situation (for example,
recognizing the importance of the event) and inputs his/her
selection; the processor receives the transmission service changing
request and identifies the network transmission service level to be
switched to; the processor transmits identification information and
the transmission service request to the network server and
determines the data to be transmitted; and when the transmission
service request is accepted, the data whose priority corresponds to
the network transmission service level provided is transmitted.
[0065] In another specific embodiment, the processor could also
include an importance recognition module. A second mapping table,
which represents the mapping relationship between events and
network transmission service levels, is preset. When an event is
detected, the importance recognition module determines the network
transmission service level corresponding to the event by querying
the second mapping table. Then the processor generates the
transmission service request according to the network transmission
service level determined. In another embodiment, a third mapping
table, which represents the mapping relationship between the
importance of events and network transmission service levels, is
preset. When an event is detected, the importance of the event is
determined, the network transmission service level corresponding to
the importance is determined by querying the third mapping table,
and the appropriate transmission service request is generated and
transmitted.
[0066] There are two ways to identify the importance of an event:
an artificial identification and an automatic identification.
[0067] In an artificial identification, the medical worker
identifies the importance of the event according to the patient's
physical symptoms, and inputs the network transmission service
level needed. Then the input device triggers the transmission
service request according to the network transmission service level
selected by the medical worker.
[0068] Alternatively, event importance could be identified
automatically in ways including but not limited to the
following:
[0069] 1. Thresholds could be set based on measurement of vital
signs, with the range of different thresholds corresponding to
different importance of events.
[0070] 2. The importance of the event could be set according to
patient condition, which may be analyzed according to waveform data
of patient vital signs collected by the medical device, such as the
patient monitor and defibrillator. For example, the importance of
the event could be set according to abnormal conditions of the ECG
wave, such as cardiac arrest, fibrillation, atrial fibrillation,
and so on.
[0071] 3. The importance of the event could be set according to the
status of the medical device, such as abnormal, charging,
discharging, and so on.
[0072] The importance of the event corresponds to the priorities of
the data or the queues. Which data needs to be transmitted depends
on the importance of the event, and this also determines the
network transmission service level needed. As shown in Table 1:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Importance of Network transmission the event
Data to be transmitted service level N1 A Level 1 N2 B Level 2 N3
B, C, D Level 3 . . . . . . . . .
[0073] The degree of importance could be preset according to
practical applications, for example:
[0074] N1 represents that the patient monitored is stable;
[0075] N2 represents an unexpected but not life-threatening
abnormality; and
[0076] N3 represents that rescue is needed and the patient's life
is--threatened.
[0077] In the column listing data to be transmitted, each letter
could represent one or more kinds of data, for example:
[0078] A represents timing or real-time ECG report;
[0079] B represents real-time medical monitoring waveform or
data;
[0080] C represents video data; and
[0081] D represents audio data.
[0082] The network transmission service levels correspond to
different degrees of service provided by the network server, for
example:
[0083] Level 1 corresponds to the lowest transmission service
level;
[0084] Level 2 corresponds to the middle transmission service
level, which could satisfy real-time and reliable transmission;
and
[0085] Level 3 corresponds to the highest transmission service
level, which could provide special channels and wide bandwidth to
allow a large amount of data to be transmitted reliably in real
time.
[0086] The process of triggering a transmission service changing
request may include the following steps: the importance of the
event is identified automatically; the network transmission service
level needed is determined by querying the third mapping table; the
processor transmits the identification information and the
transmission service request to the network server and determines
the data that needs to be transmitted; and when the transmission
service request is accepted, the data whose priority corresponds to
the network transmission service level provided is transmitted.
[0087] The network server identifies the identification information
received, which may include but is not limited to login username
and password, data transmission card number, IMEI (International
Mobile Equipment Identity)number, and device ID. After the network
server has confirmed the identification information, it then
determines and provides corresponding network transmission
service.
[0088] The network server provides dedicated data services,
different bandwidth, or transmission channels (for example,
distributes backbone network or dedicated network) according to the
network transmission service level requested. When the network
transmission service level requested is high, the network server
could provide enough bandwidth for high-speed data
transmission.
[0089] When the importance of the event decreases, the network
server could reduce the network transmission service according to
the request, and return to normal network transmission service
maintaining basic data transmission.
[0090] In one embodiment, the network server comprises a receiving
unit, a network transmission service determining unit, and a
service providing unit. The receiving unit receives the
transmission service request transmitted by the medical device, and
the transmission service request may include the network
transmission service level needed. The network transmission service
determining unit determines the network transmission service to
provide according to the network transmission service level. The
service providing unit provides the network transmission service to
the medical device.
[0091] Based on the medical device and data transmission method in
one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the interaction between the
medical device and the network server may include the following
steps:
[0092] At step S41, the operator transmits the identification
information and transmission service request to the network server
through the medical device. The transmission service request may
include the network transmission service level needed for
transmitting data.
[0093] At step S42, the network server analyzes the transmission
service request received and obtains the network transmission
service level needed.
[0094] At step S43, the network server determines the network
transmission service according to the network transmission service
level and configures the network, for example, providing
appropriate bandwidth or transmission channels.
[0095] At step S44, the network server transmits information about
the provided level of network transmission service to the medical
device.
[0096] At step S45, the medical device transmits the data
corresponding to the network transmission service level through the
network transmission service provided by the network server.
[0097] In sum, in order to resolve the data transmission problems
of existing pre-hospital emergency systems, in the embodiments
described above, a transmission strategy is formulated and the
network transmission service level is adjusted to fit different
situations, the data transmitted is classified by importance, and
the bandwidth and transmission channel provided by the network
server corresponds to the network transmission service level to
guarantee data transmission quality. Thus, important data can be
reliably transferred with high speed, in real time and stably.
[0098] In some embodiments, the importance of the event, such as an
emergency situation, could be identified by alarm information and
abnormal medical parameters. Then the network transmission service
level could be adjusted accordingly, and the network server could
provide appropriate network transmission service. The network
server could provide permanent or temporary network transmission
priority for different special applications, such as emergency
situations, and adjust network resource allocation dynamically to
transfer a large amount of data with high speed and in real
time.
[0099] In the above embodiments, the medical device of the
emergency end is an example of a data terminal needing to transmit
data. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
data terminal could be any other data terminal capable of adjusting
network transmission levels.
[0100] The foregoing specification has been described with
reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can
be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, this disclosure is to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope thereof. Likewise,
benefits, advantages, and solutions to problems have been described
above with regard to various embodiments and are not to be
construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements.
The scope of the present disclosure should, therefore, be
determined by the following claims.
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